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Sunday, 21 April 2013

Book Review: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Synopsis... Fresh out of a Psych hospital, Camille Preaker who is a reporter. Is sent to her hometown to cover the murder of two preteen girls. She goes back very reluctantly, to the mansion she grew up in, the neurotic mother who never loved her, and a half sister she doesn't know. As she is working to solve the cases and write about them, she is forced to face a past she isn't sure of. A past shemight not survive.

Review...This is the first Gillian Flynn novel I have ever read, it is also the first one she ever published. And on the wake of her Gone Girl success, and multiple recommendations. I had high expectation for Sharp Objects. For once these expectations were met by what I can only describe as a deliciously disturbing book.

The writing style was the first thing that struck me. It was very strong, determined and confident in its unique style. Then the setting which was so well described, that it had an immediate effect on me. This is what was especially great about the descriptions in the book. They all work together to create a dark and creepy world, that as you continue to read. Creeps closer and closer to you, wrapping you up. So that you are both repulsed, and forced to read on.

All of these things were great parts of the book, but the thing that Flynn does better than anything else. Is her characters and theirrelationships. Camilla is both weak and incredibly strong. She finds herself on many occasions, having to work against herself and her impulses just to survive. As she continued to lose this battle throughout the book. I felt myself as a reader lose control too. Even though I was just sitting in bed reading a book. The degree to which every character and their relationship is messed up, is astounding.

The world that has been crafted and the characters in them are what make this novel as good as it is. Even though the crime/murder-mystery aspects were not very surprising. The book still stood out to me because of its creepiness and the effect it had on me.